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BUZZFEED ANNOUNCE NEW CANNABIS PRODUCT LINE WITH NUG
BuzzFeed has announced its first-ever cannabis product is launching through a licensing partnership with NUG. BuzzFeed is the first publisher to enter the cannabis market directly, and together with NUG they will launch 3 different NUG x Goodful co-branded flower prepacks which will be available at select NUG retailers in California this summer. BuzzFeed’s licensing business is a modern take on a historically traditional business, which extends their hit viral content into real life products for their audience, giving them new ways to engage with the iconic Buzzfeed brands. From the award-winning Tasty kitchenware line at Walmart to BuzzFeed & Bellesa branded sex toys, Buzzfeed is pioneering the way for media companies to license their brand while also driving innovation in consumer products. NUG, Inc. is a premier, state-licensed, and vertically integrated California cannabis company and brand. Founded in 2014, NUG controls all aspects of the cannabis product life cycle - cultivation, extraction (THC & CBD), manufacturing, distribution and retail. The seed-to-sale approach allows NUG to create a wide variety of quality products and manage the environment in which they are sold, bringing more value to the cannabis customer.
F1 ESPORTS TOURNAMENT
For the first time, fans will be able to compete in an F1® Esports tournament from August in partnership with Firemonkeys Studio, an Australian-based creative arm of Electronic Arts (EA). Players of Real Racing 3 will get the chance to win exclusive prizes in the latest update, including tickets to the Grand Prix. “Formula 1 is the biggest motorsport in the world, and we are excited to continue to bring not only the most authentic Formula 1 content on mobile to Real Racing 3, but also the worldfirst F1 RR3 Esports Global Challenge to our players and fans,” said Joe Donoghue, General Manager of Firemonkeys Studio. Ellie Norman, Director of Marketing and Communications at Formula 1, continued: “We’re very excited to be bringing F1 Esports to Real Racing 3, as we continue to build our presence within the mobile gaming landscape. We hope the competition will see more people than ever before engage with F1 Esports on mobile as they battle it out for fantastic prizes.”
Loungefly, the fan-forward lifestyle brand from Funko, Inc. has announced its latest partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB), featuring a signature line for the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. Available to fans from mid August via Loungefly.com, the highly-anticipated accessories collection will feature mini backpacks, crossbody bags and wallets. Made with Loungefly’s high-quality and durable vegan leather (PU), the collection include appliques, debossed team logos, a custom team lining and signature Loungefly x MLB logo metal plaque on each item. The Loungefly brand intricately designs backpacks, wallets, totes and crossbody bags to apparel, collectible enamel pins and other small accessories to tell wearable stories inspired by the most beloved properties in the world. Crafted with care and precision - leaving no detail overlooked - fans find value in every stitch as bag zippers to printed linings showcase their authentic passion for the fandom that they proudly wear. Since becoming part of the Funko family in 2017, Loungefly has also expanded with Stitch Shoppe, the brand’s first high-end apparel line that launched in 2020 to promote body positivity, and Loungefly Apparel, a casual apparel line for fans, in May 2021.
EPIC GAMES PARTNER WITH FERRARI
Epic Games is partnering with Ferrari to bring one of the carmaker’s legendary sports cars to Fortnite, the two companies announced recently. Fortnite is already well-known for its celebrity and brand collaborations, but the Ferrari coming to the game, the 296 GTB hybrid sports car, is the first licensed car to appear in the hugely popular battle royale shooter.
TSBA SIGN WITH AMERICAN GOLF FOR THE OPEN
TSBA Group has secured a five-year partnership with American Golf, Europe’s golf retailer, to design and exclusively retail an officially licensed range of products inspired by The Open. The core product range will include apparel – designed under American Golf’s Stromberg label – for men, women and children including polos, shorts, trousers, and waterproofs, as well as stylish, high-tech golfing accessories and equipment including tees, golf bags, luggage, and trolleys. Officially launching in 2022 to coincide with The 150th Open, the range will include designs celebrating this significant milestone in the Championship’s prestigious history. Since The R&A held the first tournament in 1860, The Open has seen more than 120 golfers lift the coveted Claret Jug after facing and mastering the unrelenting challenges of The Open’s links courses. The range, which will be available exclusively via American Golf’s 96 stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland, along with its online store, is set to appeal to golfers at every level. Jo Edwards, Head of Global Licensing at TSBA Group said: “We are delighted to have secured this long-term partnership between American Golf and The R&A. One of the key objectives of the licensing programme is to make The Open accessible to all, 365 days of the year; American Golf’s significant retail presence will help us in this goal with a range of The Open apparel, accessories and equipment for every golfer.” Gary Favell, CEO at American Golf said: “Partnering with The R&A on a new range of apparel, accessories and equipment for The Open is incredibly meaningful for us. This range will provide golfers of every level with the kit intended to make them feel like they’re stepping out to play at the Open Championship – affordable without compromising on quality, we will ensure that we are behind every golfer.” Neil Armit, Chief Commercial Officer at The R&A, said, “We look forward to working with American Golf over the next five years and seeing them develop a range of exciting and affordable products for consumers of all ages ahead of The 150th Open being played at St Andrews next year.”
HOUSEWARES FOR SPACE ARCHIVE
Maurizio Distefano, Italian licensing agent for the International Space Archives (ISA), has announced an agreement with Hermet, a homeware company with extensive expertise in licensing collaborations, to develop a bedding and homeware line inspired by the ISA. Hermet will create a bedding collection consisting of bedding sets and quilts and a homeware collection including bathroom and kitchen textiles, living room rugs and cushions, tableware and beach towels, both of which will be customized with stunningly beautiful images of space exploration missions and the famous symbol of the American space programme. The collection will be distributed in mass-market stores, in specialty stores for home furnishings, and online. Over the past fifty years, manned and unmanned space programmes in the United States and other countries have amassed a huge amount of still and motion photography which is unique in its scope and splendour. For the first time ever, the International Space Archives has brought together the best of this still and video imagery into one comprehensive collection which is available for licensing worldwide through LMI Ltd, and in Italy through MDL. The Mission Patches, photos, films and video contained in the archive come from a variety of sources including, of course, the American space programme, as well as the international space programmes of Russia, Japan, China, India and the European Union.
COSMO SUN BY COSMOPOLITAN LAUNCHED
Cosmopolitan has partnered with 25-year sun care industry veteran, Devoted Creations, to launch CosmoSun by Cosmopolitan, a luxury sun care and self-tan line. Created in a deal brokered by IMG, the cruelty-free, vegan and nut-free collection is suitable for all skin types and consists of five sunless tanning essentials: Sunless Mousse with instant color, Instant Body Bronzer wash off formula, Sun Lotion with Shimmer, Overnight Sunless Lotion and Liquid Sunshine tanning water. Additionally, there are three sun care products: Water resistant sunscreens in SPF 30 and 55+ and an Aftersun Moisturizer with soothing cucumber and aloe. The Applicator Mitt completes the range. The line is available now in the US at Amazon and devotedcreations.com/cosmosun; in Italy at Capello Point (online and in-store); and in Russia at Beauty Factor. CosmoSun by Cosmopolitan pairs premium ingredients and luscious aesthetics for a lavish pampering experience. CosmoSun’s core was built on the ever-moving lifestyle of Cosmopolitan readers and aims to exceed their current sun care expectations. “Cosmopolitan’s audience has always had a strong enthusiasm for outdoor fun and an equivalent level of attention to their skin’s health,” says Angela Kim, Director of Hearst Global Licensing. “So, we are pleased to finally present this line of sun care products. Especially now, with renewed eagerness in many countries to get outside and socialize with their loved ones, this partnership with Devoted Creation is timelier than ever.” “When we sat down with Cosmopolitan, the goal was a standout collection,” said Lewis Henry, President of Devoted Creations. “From our years in the industry, we thoroughly understand users expect to look and feel fantastic when using these types of products. It was paramount we use well thought-out and reputable formulas, like the ones we’re known for, when creating the CosmoSun Collection. In our collaboration with Cosmopolitan, we were able to capture the Cosmopolitan essence through all aspects of the product line and deliver a great user experience. We’re thrilled to see CosmoSun by Cosmopolitan come to life and looking forward to the amazing results users will experience.”
UBISOFT PARTNER WITH TINDERBOX
Video game company, Ubisoft, are partnering with Tinderbox – the digital division of Beanstalk, to represent their top selling gaming franchises, Just Dance and Far Cry for licensing across Europe. Tinderbox will support both franchises, Just Dance and Far Cry, by expanding the European consumer products footprint into new categories and channels, pursuing opportunities across fashion, collectibles, home, gifting and novelty, consumer electronics and more. Since 1986, Ubisoft have created worlds for everyone. They are dedicated to enriching the lives of their players by developing high-quality games that resonate with all kinds of personalities, bring people together, and allow everyone to learn and grow while having fun. The seventeen-year-old, Far Cry franchise features open-world, first-person shooter games known for beautiful wilderness environments and survival thematics. Today there are over 60 million unique players in the franchise, and the next title, Far Cry 6, is to be released on October 7th, 2021. Just Dance is the #1 Music Video Game franchise of all time. With 11 titles, 80 million games sold, and more than 138 million registered players worldwide, this mainstream brand is more than a video game: it is a worldwide phenomenon. This evergreen franchise invites players to have fun playing with their family and friends, or to keep fit, exercising at home to classic songs and the latest hits. The next title, Just Dance 2022, will release on November 4th, 2021. Dave Tovey, Head of Tinderbox at Beanstalk, said “We are thrilled to be partnering with Ubisoft in developing consumer product programmes for their top selling titles. Far Cry is one of the biggest gaming franchises, with a passionate fan base that is eager for more consumer touch points. Just Dance is the ultimate definition of a cross-generational gaming experience, delighting fans from Gen Z, Millennials and beyond. The team at Tinderbox are excited to get started and establish exciting and engaging brand extensions at retail on behalf of Ubisoft.”
